VC-1/H.264 playback too slow with VLC

[ryhor]

Greeting

Sure there is nothing to vlc in this question. FFMPEG h264 decoder isn't optimal internally - this is if you try to don't use "bad" words . Personally have deep experience with Entropy decodimg part of ffmpeg - there is no any chances for HD 6-8Mbps stream 7fps for 3.2GHz PPC little better for intel core - but still far from real time decoding.

However - here isn't a place to discuss FFMPEG.
But re-engineering and multicore - speed up FFMPEG to real time - tried - works .

[thatisthat]

Is this faster "ffmpeg" going to be included in VLC in the future?

[ryhor]

I am sorry if I misinform someone here.

I am not from FFMPEG team - I've just shared my achieved experience.

There are a lot of possible improvements in h264 decoder from FFMPEG. I hope eventually they will come - as HD video knocking in the door. Sure I can share my experience - but can't spend time directly for development process.

[Lotesdelere]

VLC tries to play the file but produces broken video output, black screens, blocked/damaged video frames, basically it displays the effects of what it looks like to play a video file on a slow computer.

Try this: open the Preferences and tick the 'Advanced options' box, then go to Input / Codecs -> Other codecs -> FFmpeg
Change the loop filter: in the drop-down box for 'Skip the loop filter for H.264 decoding' change it to 'All'

BTW the FFmpeg version used in VLC does not support PAFF interlacing yet. It should be implemented soon

[vlan-user]

Hi:

I am using Win98, 2.4 GHz Pentium 4, 500MB RAM, ATI Radeon Graphics card (AGP 4x) with 64MB and VLC 0.8.6c. I am having problem playing a video encoded in x264 in 1280x720. The video is slow and choppy. Have done what Lotesdelere suggested and also set input/codecs--> Video codecs --> x264 , skip loop filter, still can't see the video properly. Anything else I should set or unset? Is the resolution in x264 too much for my card? I have no problems playing the same resolution in DivX or XVid. Sorry if this sounds like x263 problem. Just want to resolve this as soon as I can. Thanks.

Out of curiosity, what are the advantages using x264/h264 for offline/non-streaming video?

[ryhor]

Hi!
- The reason for offline h.264 is just stay unchanged - same quality with lower bitrate or better quality for same bitrate compare to predecessor.
- Disabling "deblocking-filter" is an tricky way - it is disable one of algorithmic advantage of h.264.
- As I understand VLC - i.e. ffmpeg actually for this case - it doesn't use your video card for decoding process.
- And finally - that CPU just isn't fast enough for decoding such h.264 stream by current ffmpeg implementation of standard.

[VLC_help]

deblocking-filter doesn't mean that much with video that has HD resolution. And there isn't so much you could with AGP 4x videocard that would help decoding of video, even if FFMPEG would support video card acceleration =)

[vlan-user]

thanks for inputs from ryhor and VLC_help. I guess my hardware just don't cut it . A few years back , I bought this computer just to see DivX/XVid, then now h/x264. One just can't keep upgrading hardware for different transcoding standards. In my case, I have to upgrade to a PCI Express card, that also means a new motherboard with this interface, and new hard drive because of SATA only for newer motherboard and possibly a new CPU. They really know how to get the last cents out of one's pocket. :S

[ryhor]

Hello

If your target is just playing h.264 on your hardware you may try to look on commercial decoders at first. Can't remember exact info but something like 50% of CPU load for 2Ghz P-4 - that what I maybe have heard somewhere before . Try google and check. Sure hardware upgrade is more exciting, but as always question is - what is a target?

[VLC_help]

CoreAVC might be the best bet. And hardware is very cheap nowadays =)

[vlan-user]

Luckily I managed to find a codec to resolve my problem (somewhat); at least it plays , sounds are in-sync. Although it occasionally skips frames, still better than what I had before. Now I am just waiting for the next thing to break it.

[Spacecatx]

Ok I just installed the latest VLC player 0.8.6f and when I first played an .mkv file it played okay. But now when I play it (the same .mvk file), the video comes out pixellated and the video seems to freeze as well. I did not have this problem with xvid/divx encoded files one almost the same size of the said mkv file and one slightly smaller. I thought it had something to do with the skins and then the file itself but now I'm not sure.

My computer is a Toshiba A75-S231 with a 3.3 Ghz processor with windows XP with 512 ram.

[VLC_help]

How high you CPU usage goes when you play that MKV file? have you tried to reset VLC settings?

[Spacecatx]

It worked thanks.

[Spacecatx]

I recently upgraded to the current version. I tried to rest the settening before I used the player but now when I play it I once again becomes frozen in mid-play no matter what I do.

[VLC_help]

Spacecatx: you mean 0.8.6 or 0.9.0?

[MetalheadGautham]

I recently upgraded to the current version. I tried to rest the settening before I used the player but now when I play it I once again becomes frozen in mid-play no matter what I do.

By "current", which version do you mean ? Use the about dialogue for the version number.

[Spacecatx]

Sorry. Turn's out that it was my computer. It's been working alright since I got it back from the repair shop.

[beemerrox]

I suffer from the same problem, the x264 files pixelate or freeze or the sound gets choppy.

I use VLC 0.9.4.
My computer setup is
AMD Turion X2 Dual Core 2.00 Ghz
3 GB RAM
Nvidia 8200M G GPU

I can't understand why I should suffer from this problem.....please help me =)

[VLC_help]

If you watch HD H.264 material, you computer just hasn't enough speed for VLC. You can try the loop filter trick.
http://wiki.videolan.org/WindowsFAQ-0.9 ... s_too_slow

[rbc]

hi I'm new with computer and vlc, I have a gateway lx . w/ati hybird graphics card ,amd phenom x4, w/ vista home-64; I ripped a blue ray movie it is x264 mkv, haved in my files, it play but every few sec. freeze- yust video and audio runs good, downloaded the k lite codecs package w/ 321 media player and runs great but out of sync. betwen video + audio, I uninstal everything and start over. how I can set up filters in vlc or speed, in vlc message: error 5 sec. late ( computer is too slow?), HOW I can fix this problem, ps: have the latest vlc version downloaded 2 day ago.

[rbc]

forgot! 8 GB RAM

[VLC_help]

If that loop filter trick doesn't help, there isn't anything you can do to make playback better in VLC. We have to just wait that FFMPEG/libavcodec decoding gets better.

[rbc]

thanks! vlc_help, finally was able to see move!, now I have some other questions may be you can help me?, only thing I had during this move is that sometimes the move frezee + pixle yust for 1 or 2 sec. then corrects himself,only happens about 3 or 4 times for the whole move-- I don't know if it is the move or that I need to use the stream or convert-- I don't understand too much about it--remember I'm new w/comp. so what they do? + what should be the perfect way to fix this detail + to meke it the resolution to 1080p it feels like regular video-remember the move is a blu ray + I'm using my plasma 1080p (panasonic) 50s as monitor, also if it is posible to make it really full screen so the aspect radio will really use all my tv screen?, I use the crop and aspect ratio in vlc looks good but won't use 100% of my tv screen, don't know if you can help me whith this one but will be apreciated. or maybe you can send me to the correct forum to learn about those things.

[Ohajiki]

I have exactly the same problem, even after adjustments.

I also have audio/video sync problems with MPC+CCP